Stove top construction



June 12, 1951 H. M. hEEvEs 2,556,444

STOVE TOP CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 31, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Hev-bertQeeves H. M. REEVES STOVE TOP CONSTRUCTION Jt me 12, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed Jan. 31. 1947 Patented June 12, 1951 STOVE TOP CONSTRUCTIONHerbert M. Reeves, Kankakee, Ill., assignor to Florence Stove Company,Gardner, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application January 31,1947, Serial No. 725,657

12 Claims.

1 The invention relates generally to cookstoves of the table type andmore particularly to an improved top construction for such stoves.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a top construction forstoves of the above general character which is more attractive inappearance, easier to keep clean, and less expensive to manufacture thanthe top structures heretofore in use.

A more specific object is to provide a top structure for stoves havingall of the desirable characteristics of so-called one-piece tops butwhich is much less expensive to manufacture.

Another object is to provide separately formed back guard and topelements for table top cookstoves characterized by the simplicity ofconstruction with its resultant low cost and by the complete absence ofsquare corners or exposed joints between the working surface at the topof the stove and the back guard.

Still another object is to provide an attractive and efficient backguard and improved means for supporting it on the stove whereby thejoint between the guard and the adjacent top parts of the stove iselevated substantially above the working surface of the, same and thusprotected against the accumulation of grease or dirt and elfectuallyconcealed from View.

A further object is to provide a sheet metal back guard for stovesembodying a novel louver structure which greatly facilitates manufactureof the guard and which materially reduces its cost.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description of the preferred embodimentillustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a stove top embodying the features ofthe invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the stove top taken in avertical plane substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the manner in which theback guard is sup.- ported on and secured to the side panels of thestove body.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view through the stove top taken in avertical plane substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the louver structure taken inofiset planes substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

v Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of a louver supporting bracket.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications andalternative constructions, I have shown in the drawings and will hereindescribe in detail the preferred embodiment, but

2 it is to be understood that I do not thereby intend to limit theinvention to the specific form disclosed, but intend to cover allmodifications and alternative constructions falling within the spiritand scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

For purposes of illustration the invention has been shown as embodied ina table type cookstove having a generally rectangular body closed atopposite ends by sheet metal end panels 9 and supporting at its upperend a cooking top ll) (Fig. 2) and a working top H (Fig. 1) arranged inside by side relation. The cooking top is formed with suitable openingsfor the accommodation of conventional heating elements or burners l2 andis provided with a removable cover l3 adapted to be closed down over theburners as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The cooking top is preferably steppedor ofi'set downwardly from the working top I l to permit the cover whenclosed to lie flush with the working top and thus present a fiathorizontal surface over the entire top of the stove. An upright backguard member I5 is provided along the rear edge of the stove body forprotecting the adjacent wall from splashing grease or the like.

In accordance with the invention, the back guard member I5 is supportedand the working top H and cover l3 are shaped for cooperation therewithin a novel manner which effectually eliminates square corners andexposed joints between the back guard and the top elements of the stove.More particularly, the back guard member is supported above and invertically spaced relation to the working top surface of the stove byupright extensions l6 formed on the end panels 9. The working top H andthe cover l3 are formed adjacent their rear edges with upwardly andrearwardly sweeping curved portions IT and I8 adapted to closelyunderlie the back guard member as shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 6. With thisarrangement the joint between the back guard and the top elements of thestove is raised substantially above the working surface which terminatesat the rear of the stove in a gently rounded corner in whichthere is notendency for dust, dirt or grease to become lodged and which, moreover,is easily cleaned. Louvers l 9 forming a part of the front wall of theback guard member l5 provide for venting the space in back of the stoveand effectually conceal the joint between the guard and the stove topelements.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the end panels 9, cooking topH], working top H, cover I3, and back guard member l5 are formed assheet metal stampings and are preferably fin-' ished'with a coating ofvitreous enamel in accordance with the usual practice of the art. Asthese parts are relatively small they can be produced economically withsimple, inexpensive dies and forming apparatus. Lighter gauge metal canbe used without sacrifice of strength or rigidity with a correspondingreduction in cost. Moreover, scrap losses are reduced as compared withthose experienced in the production of onepiece tops.

In the exemplary stove, the end panels 9 are provided on their upper andfront edges with inwardly and downwardly turned flanges 2| (Fig. 2)adapted for engagement with the framework 22 of the stove. Whenassembled in the stove structure the flanges 2| lie substantially flushwith the cooking top it.

The cooking top I 9 comprises a flat metal sheet 23 having a downwardlyturned marginal flange .24 by which the top is supported on the stoveframe. In the particular stove illustrated, the cooking top isdimensioned so that its rear edge is disposed somewhat forwardly of thefront face of the back guard member l5, as shown in Fig. 4,

to permit the cover IE to be shifted from the horizontal closed positionin which it is shown to an upright open position with its rear edgeportion projecting into the stove body.

The working top 1 l is formed from a flat generally rectangular metalsheet 25 and is provided with downwardly turned marginal flanges 26along its front and side edges. Preferably, the corners at the front andoutside edges of the member are rounded to present a'pleasingstreamlined appearance, while the inside edge is formed with a squarecorner to permit a close fit with the cover 13. Adjacent its rear edgthe top sheet 25 merges with the upwardly and rearward-1y sweepingcurved portion 11 which forms a gently rounded sanitary corner along theback edge of the working top.

As herein shown, the cover i8 is complemental-ly shaped with respect tothe working top member H. sheet 28 with depending front and side flanges29,. As shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the marginal edge portions ofthe flanges 29 are turned inwardly to provide wide bearing surfaces 30for supporting the cover on the cooking top. The top sheet 28 mergesinto the upwardly curved rear portion 18 which has its rear marginaledge turned back and then downwardly as indicated at 31 (Fig. 4).Rollers 32 journalled in the stove frame cooperate with hinge members 33connecting between the frame and the cover to guide the latter in itsmovements between open and closed positions.

The back guard 15 is constructed and assembled with the other elementsof the stove in a novel manner which simplifies manufacture and whichmaterially reduces the cost of the same. To this end the back guard ismade up of an elongated top member or cap and the louvers l9 which areseparately formed and. assembled as a unitary structure. The cap 4i asshown in Figs. 1 and 3-5, comprises a sheet metal stamping dimensionedto extend over and rest upon the extension l6 of the end panels.

Viewed in cross section, the cap 49 is shaped to provide a gentlysloping top wall M (Fig. 4) merging into a steeply sloping front wall42. The central portion of the wall 42 is pressed outwardly so as tooverhang the louvers l9 and the lower edge thereof is formed with a bead43 to aline with the forward edges of the louvers. Inturned flanges 44are provided along the front and rear edges of the cap to impartstrength and rigidity thereto. As shown in Fig. 3, the flange 44 isslightly enlarged adjacent the ends of the. cap 0 1 Thus the covercomprises a flat top .same.

attachment to the extensions it which are formed with inturned flanges45 providing a seat for the The parts are detachably secured together asby stove bolts 36 extending through the flanges.

The louver structure [9 comprises one or more louver elements 50, threein the embodiment illustrated, assembled in vertically spaced relation.In the preferred form shown, each louver element is stamped or drawnfrom sheet metal to provide a flat top wall 5| and a downwardly andforwardly sloping front wall 52 with upright end walls 53 connecting thesame at each end. The front wall 52 may be formed slightly concave toimprove the appearance of the structure and is terminated at its loweredge in a curled bead 5'4 to conceal the raw edges of the element and toreinforce it longitudinally.

The louver elements 56 are assembled in superimposed relation andsecured together as a unit by bolts 55 passing through suitableapertures in the top walls 51 of the elements adjacent opposite ends ofthe elements. Spacers, herein shown as tubular members or sleeves 55enclosing the bolts 54 and interposed between adjacent elements, serveto hold them in predetermined spaced relation.

For mounting the louver unit on the stove structure, the unit isprovided with spring clips 56 adapted to cooperate with brackets 51supported on the extension I5 of the side panels. As shown in Fig. 7,the brackets '51, which are shaped respectively for right and left-handmounting, comprise sheet metal stampings each having a fiat web portionand a depending leg 58 formed with a transverse slot 59 for the reception of the clip 56. The web portion of the bracket is adapted to lieflush against the underside of the flange 45 of the extension f6 and issecured thereto by the bolt 46 by which the member 4'0 is fastened inplace. The bracket is mounted so that the leg 58 extends substantiallyparallel to the front wall of the cap it, depending flanges 60 on theweb portion of the bracket serving to accurately locate the same in thedesired position.

The clips 55 as herein shown each comprises an elongated strip of sheetmetal having an aper ture at one end for the reception of the bolt 54 ofthe louver unit. In the assembly of the unit, the strip is insertedbetween the intermediate louver element 50 and the lower spacer 55, withthe other end portion projecting at the rear of the unit. The projectingend of the strip is bent back upon itself and then downwardly to form aresilient detent 6i engageable in the slot 58, as shown in Figs. 4 and6. The arrangement is such that the detent portion is compressed whenforced through the slot 59 and subsequently expands to draw the louverunit tightly against the legs 58 of the brackets. The louver unit maythus be mounted on the stove by simply entering the clips '56 in thenotches 59 and pushing the assembly rearwardly. To remove the unit it isonly necessary to compress the detent portion 5i of the clip so that itmay be withdrawn from the slot 59.

Preferably, the legs 58 of the brackets 51 are inclined slightly fromthe vertical so that thelowermost louver element '50 extends over the;end portions H and I8 of the cover and working. top, thus effectuallyconcealing the joint between the back guard and the top elements of thestove. The spacing of the louver elements provides adequate venting forthe space in back of the stove, thus permitting the stove to be mountedflush against the wall of the room in which it is installed.Accordingly, the top wall 4| of the cap 40, the side walls of theextensions I6 and the adjacent edge portions of the panels 9 areextended rearwardly of the stove body for cooperation with the room wallin forming a relatively deep chamber for circulating cooling air betweenthe stove and the wall. Air is admitted to the lower end of the chamberin well known manner to mix with the hot gases from the oven and the airand gases are discharged through the louvers I9, which as explainedheretofore are arranged to direct the air and gases downwardly andforwardly over the stove top.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the invention provides astove top construction of novel and advantageous character. Bysupporting the back guard on the end panels of the stove in verticallyspaced relation to the top surface thereof, the working top member andthe cover for the cooking top may be formed with upwardly sweeping rearedge portions which provide a gently rounded corner at the rear of theworking surface. The joint between the back guard member and the topelements of the stove is thus raised substantially above the workingsurface and effectually protected from accumulation of dirt or grease.The absence of square corners or joints adjacent the working surfacematerially improves the sanitary characteristics of the stove.

The back guard includes a louver unit of novel character which providesadequate venting for the chamber at the back of the stove, impartsstrength and rigidity to the guard, and which conceals the joint betweenthe guard and the ad-- jacent stove parts. By reason of the improvedconstruction, the various parts are all of relatively small size andcapable of being produced by simple, inexpensive forming dies. Thus theadvantages of attractive appearance, absence of corners and joints, andproper venting of the space in back of the stove are obtained at minimumcost.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a table type cookstove, in combination, a generally rectangularcooking top, a generally rectangular Working top presenting a flatworking surface at one side of said cooking top, an upright back guardmember extending along the rear edges of the cooking and working tops,and sheet metal panels at opposite ends of the stove having integralupwardly projecting extensions supporting said member with its loweredge spaced upwardly from said working surface, said working surfacesweeping upwardly and rearwardly adjacent the rear edge of the workingtop to closely underlie said back guard member.

2. In a table type cookstove, in combination, a generally rectangularcooking top, a generally rectangular working top presenting a flatworking surface at one side of said cooking top, a removable cover forsaid cooking top presenting when closed a horizontal surface, an uprightback guard member extending along the rear edges of the cooking andWorking tops, and sheet metal panels at opposite ends of the stovehaving integral upwardly projecting extensions supporting said backguard member with its lower edge spaced upwardly from the cooking andworking tops, said cooking top cover having its upper surface shaped tosweep upwardly and rearwardly to closely underlie said back guard memberwhen the cover is closed.

3. In a cookstove having a generally rectangu-jlar body, a panelsupported on said body providing a horizontal working top surface, asecond panel disposed at one side of said working top panel providing ahorizontal. cooking top oifset downwardly from the working top surface,a cover for said cooking top adapted when in closed position to lieflush with the working top surface, end panels closing opposite ends ofthe stove body and each having an extension projecting above the top ofthe stove adjacent the rear edge thereof, and a back guard membersupported by said extensions above and in vertically spaced relation tosaid working top and cover surfaces, said working top and said coverhaving raised portions adjacent their rear edges underlying said backguard and forming a joint disposed substantially above the surfaces, andlongitudinally disposed louvers in the face of said back guard memberconcealing said joint. r

4. A back guard for a cookstove including an elongated sheet metal capmember adapted to be supported at the rear of and above the top surfaceof the stove, a louver unit disposed between the stove top and said capmember and cooperating with the latter to form the back guard, saidlouver unit comprising a plurality of sheet metal louver elements,spacers interposed between said elements to maintain them in parallelspaced relation, bolts securing said elements and said spacers togetherin a unitary structure, and means secured between the spacers and one ofsaid elements for supporting the unit on the stove.

5. A back guard for a cook stove including a cap member supported at therear of and above the top of the stove, brackets supported on said stovebelow and adjacent opposite ends of said cap member, each of saidbrackets having a transversely slotted generally upright leg, aplurality of louver units disposed in spaced parallel relation andsecured together as a unitary structure, and supporting members rigidwith said louver structure including resilient detents engageable in theslots in said bracket legs to maintain the louver structure in assembledrelation with the stove.

6. In a cookstove having a cooking top and a working top, panels atopposite ends of the stove formed with integral extensions projectingabove the stove tops, a back guard for the stove including a cap memberextending over and resting on said extensions, and a louver unitextending between and supported on said extensions below said capmember, said unit comprising a plurality of louver members assembled invertically spaced relation and having their front edges substantiallyalined with the lower front edge of said cap member.

'7. In a cookstove having a cooking top and a working top, panels atopposite ends of the stove formed with integral extensions projectingabove the stove tops, a back guard for the stove including a cap memberextending over and resting on said extensions, a louver unit dimensionedto extend between said extensions, brackets rigidly secured to saidextensions and projecting below said cap member, and detent means rigidwith said unit and engageable with said brackets for detachablysupporting the unit.

8. In a table type cookstove having a flat generally rectangular top,panels at opposite ends of the stove formed with integral extensionsprojecting above the stove top, a back guard for the stove including acap member extending over and resting on said extensions, and a louvermember extending between and supported on said extensions below said capmember, said louver member :having its forward edge substantially alinedwith the front edge of said cap member and disposed in overlyingrelation to the rear edge of the stove top.

9. In a table type cookstove having a generally rectangular body with ahorizontally disposed cooking top, sheet metal panels closing oppositeends of the stove body and having extensions projecting above the stovetop adjacent the rear edge of the stove body, said end panels havinginwardly turned flanges extending along their upper edges and saidextensions having similar flanges facing forwardly, a back guardincluding a louver unit supported between the flanges of said extensionsat the rear edge of the stove body, a cover for said cooking top hingedadjacent its rear edge to swing between an upright open position and ahorizontal closed position, said cover having an upwardly extending rearedge portion and the lower edge of said louver unit being spaced fromsaid cooking top to accommodate the rear edge portion of the cover whenclosed with said portion underlying the louver unit between saidextensions and to afford clear- 1 flange extending along its upper edge,said extensions having inwardly turned flanges on their front edgesmerging with the flanges on the panels as well as flanges on the topsurface thereof, and a back guard member having flanges along its loweredge supported by said extensions in vertically spaced relation to saidtop surface, the flanges on said extensions and said member beingsecured together.

11. In a table type cookstove having a generally rectangular body with ahorizontally disposed top surface, sheet metal panels closing oppositeends of the stove body and having integrally formed extensionsprojecting above the top surface of the stove adjacent its rear edge, aback guard comprising a cap member and a louver unit, and means forindependently mounting said cap member and said louver unit on saidextensions.

12. In a table type cookstove having a generally rectangular body with ahorizontally disposed top surface, sheet metal panels closing oppositeends of the stove body and having an integrally formed extension on eachof said panels projecting above the top surface of the stove adjacentits rear edge, and a back guard unit comprising a cap member and .alouver unit, said cap member extending over and resting on saidextensions and said louver unit extending below said cap member andserving to close the space between the cap member and the top surface ofthe stove.

HERBERT M. REEVES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,989,556 Moecker Jan. 29, 19352,154,724 Brown Apr.18, 1939 2,163,258 Lautz June 20, 1939 2,175,819Barnsteiner Oct. 10, 1939 2,226,834 Rogers Dec. 31, 1940 2,237,795Shroyer Apr. 8, 1941 2,274,299 Mayer Feb. 24, 1942 2,329,853 Ring Sept.21, 1943 2,332,760 Smallen Oct. 26, 1943 2,349,307 Reeves May 23, 19442,364,950 Cook Dec. 12, 1944

